Vacant rental homes can hastily become a source of massive distress. When a tenant moves out and no new occupant is found there and then, these empty properties can attract unwanted attention. The empty spaces can, without question, look like an inviting opportunity for trespassers and squatters committed to finding shelter. Without ideal oversight, what was once a vibrant home can negatively spiral into a discarded shell, delight trouble and anxiety for landlords.
What is squatting?
Squatting pertains to the unlawful occupation of an uninhabited building or unused land. In clear language, for homeowners, a squatter is someone who occupies your property without your permission. In addition, this situation can also refer to former tenants who nest on the property without paying rent after their lease has expired or been terminated.
Unlawful occupants can negatively impact your rental property and make it truly hard and difficult to lease to new tenants. To successfully prevent squatters, it is most necessary to secure your property. If you do not have your residence near your rental home, mull over hiring a property management company to monitor the property regularly and handle tenant turnover.
What to do at the first sign of a squatter?
If you notice a squatter on your property, you should immediately contact the police. The longer you neglect to do something about a squatter’s existence, the harder it will be to evict them later. Courts may interpret your failure to act as a sign of consent, making the eviction process more taxing.
Another potential issue transpires if a squatter manages to turn on utilities at the property in their name. In a few areas, doing so can establish legal residency, even as the squatter occupies your property without your permission. If this springs up, the police may quickly classify the situation as civil rather than criminal.
If the police cannot assist you, the subsequent step is to serve the unlawful occupant with an eviction notice. Just simply providing this notice can mostly encourage the squatter to move out voluntarily. But, still, if they refuse to leave, you may need to file an unlawful detainer lawsuit, which will develop into formal eviction proceedings.
The entire duration of this process can vary depending on the capability of the court system in your state, taking anywhere from two weeks to several months. In case you get a judgment in your favor from the court, you can, without hitch, enlist the local sheriff or police to remove the squatter on your behalf.
What to do with a squatter’s leftover property?
If you have successfully evicted your squatters, you’ll have to put right any issues regarding personal property they may have left behind. Whether they left without restraint or were removed with force, it’s unsurprising for them to abandon some belongings.
The following steps are based on the laws in your area. In a lot of states, you may dispose of these items without consequence. But, however, in other places, you could be required to store their belongings in a storage unit at your own expense. If the squatters do not claim their property and reimburse you for the storage fees, you may have the right to auction off the items or dispose of them in accordance with local regulations.
Handling squatters can be arduous and resource-intensive. To shun this, proactive management is the central key. At Real Property Management Blue Sky, we satisfyingly manage tenant move-outs and rapidly fill vacancies. An occupied rental property is both flourishingly profitable and free from squatters. For more needed details with regards to our property management services in Zephyrhills, please contact us online or call 813-625-9595.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
